Lock device for automobiles



Feb. 24, 1925.l

w. MREAsoN LOCK DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Auf.

.Il E r ATTORNEY.

Feb. 24, 1925.

W. M. REASON LOCK DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Augfsa, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 Wr/f A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb.J 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES" PATENTA OFFICE.

WALTER. M. nEAsoN, or PONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

LOCK DEVICE FOR AUT(IDMOIBIL'ES.`

Application led August 9, 1923. Serial No. 656,590.

Improvement- 'in Lock Devices for Automobiles. and declare the 'following to be a full. clear.'and exact description of the same` such as will enableothers skilled .in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. reference belng had to the accompany.-

. ing drawings, which form a part of this speciicatlon.

vention is to provide a simple and efficient This invention relates to locking devices for automobiles, and the object of the 1n- `means for simultaneously breakingihe ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine and disconnect-ing the power apparatus and. driving wheels.' At the present time, locks are provided for locking the transmis-` sion mechanism from operation, l'and a .switch is provided for controlling the igni- -tion circuit of the engine. Tith lsuch former construction the opera-tor oftentimes v removes the key from the switch breaking `the ignition circuit but does not lock the vehicle, and unauthorized persons find it an easy matter to complete the ignition circuit and drive the vehicle away. My Inventlon v seeks to provide a locking device compelling the operator to lock the vehicle in order to break the ignition circuit and thus practically eliminate theft of the vehicle.

Further.' in former devices utilizing a transmission lock, 1t was also a slmple mat) ter to remove the transmission case cover with the lock and it is then aneasy matter -to shift the gears by means of an Ordinar)v bar or-,heavy screw driver. A featureof this invention is in the provision yof a. lock structure which holds the clutch discon-` R nected and simultaneously breaks the ignition circuit and 'in the arrangement'of the lock whereby it impractical-115' impossible for ordinary persons within a shortJ period of time to move the lock-or so disconnect the same as to releasel the clutch to establish driving connection between the engine and the driving wheels. 'It is also an object of this invention to provide la device of the character and having the function`stated that is Acomparatively simpleand inexpensive in construction that can be readily ap- .plied to an automobile.' These and other objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed. and the preferred form of construction of a locking device embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is av sidel elevation partly in section showing my improved lock structure as ap- 'plied to an automobile power transmission is ,aview taken on line 44-4 of mechanism and the clutch shaft 5 which is` connected with the housing 3. The clutch may be ofV any approved type and 1s here shown as beingof what is known as the plate or disk `type which has the loose late or disk 6 connected through the case I with the driving shaft (not here shown) as willfbe readily understood by those familiar with this art. The case 7 provides a housing for the disk and a movable plate 8 is connected directly with the shaft 5 and rotatable therewith. Also carried bythe disk 6 are several pins 9 engaging in the ring 10- and springs 11 are interposed between the ring 10 and plate 6 tending to force the fiber or cork face 12 of the ring into engagement with the plate 8 to frictionally connect the p late 8 with the plate 6 connected withthe propeller shaft as above stated. To release the plate^10 I have provided several'levers 13, only one of which is here shown. As is usual the levers 13 ment of the levers to the left of the position shown in Fig. 1, the clutch is rele d. The upper end of each lever 13, in he usual construction of 4this type pf clutch, engages in a cupped `member 14 at the rear lofl the thrust member 15 which is slidable -on the hub 16 of the member 6. The 'thrust member 15 carries at the forward ebd a. thrust bearing 17 and the usual releasing fork 18 engages'against this thrust bearing atthe upper end and isl to be understood as b eing connected with the swinging bar 19.'p1votally supported in the frame of the automobile (not here shown). The clutch releasing pedal (not here shown) is also to be understood as being connected with this .bar 19 and by movementof the pedal in a forward direction by the foot of the operator, the fork 18 moves the thrust member 15 to the left of Fig. 1 releasing the clutch. The clutchfstructure above specifically mentioned is commonly in use and, while I have, specifically described the clutch mechanism, it is to be understood that a clutch of any desired type may be utilized without departing from the spirit of this invention, and that my lock structure may be opera-tively connected'with any of t-lie usual types of clutch devices. -The only change required to adapt the lock device for use with different types of clutches is to provide a means such as the bar 20D or an equivalent thereof connected to a member rocked or turned by the clutch lever to turn this lever 20 about the l move the rod 22 corresponding to the clutch pivot point` indicated at 21 so that when the clutch is released this member 20 will movement which is ordinarily about one-half an inch. As will be understood'from Fig. 2, the forward end of this rod 22 rides in an aperture in a casting 23 which forms. part of the housing and base ,or support for the lock device proper indicated generally by the numeral 24. This casting 23 is provided .with a foo't 25 riveted to the cross bar 26 lower end of which, when the lock 1s ,in

unlocked position as shown in Fig. 2, just `l enters the vertical a erture 30in the part 23.l It is to be note that the forward end of the rod 22 connected with the clutch operating mechanism when the clutch is engaged extends just forward of this aperture 30 and therefore forward of the end of the bolt 29. Upon release of the clutchby movement of the clutch operating-lever, this member 22 is withdrawn which-permits the lock bolt 29 to be moved downward in the .aperture 30 forwardof the end of the rod 22 and when the lock bolt is held 'in this position prevents the rod 22 from moving forward due' to connection of the 'rear end' of the.' rod 22 with the member 20. This effectually holds the- 'clutch disengaged thereby disconnecting the power apparatus from the propeller shaft. Thus, by movement downward of the lock bolt to unlocked position. ThisV lock is of thew ordinary construction and is preferably ofthe key-operated. type and a springpressed pin 34 is provided ,(slio-wn more clearly in Fig. 4) which, on movement of the lock case and boltdownward by the foot of the operator, project beneath the shoulder 35.012 the housing holding the lock case and b'olt in its downward or locked position. The' key functions in'l the usual manner withdrawing the pin 34 which releases the lock bolt and case to actuation by .the spring 33 moving it from locked position shown in Fig. 2. To prevent rotation of the lock case and bolt, I provide a pin or screw 36 in theside of the housing 27, the inner end of which engages in a slot 37 formed in the outer surface of the lock case; From this. description 'it will be evident that to lock a car from operation, it is only necessary for the `operator to move 'the case 31 and lock bolt 29 connected theretion indicated in Fig.- 4to unlocked posiwith downward at the time the clutch is disengaged. Thisy movement positions the lower end of the bolt 29 across the end of the rod 22 thereby holding the clutch disengaged upon'release of the clutch operating lever. It is also to be noted that a key is required to unlock the device to permit engagement of the clutch with the power apparatus.

With this structure I have combined a switch for the ignition circuit, the wires of which are indicated at 38 and 39 in Fig. 3., The housing 27 for the lock is provided with an aperture 40 and the contact devices, 41 on one side and 42 on the opposite side,

are mounted by means of the screws 43 and 44 on thel case 27 andextend into the aperture 40. These Contact devices are preferably of the-form shown and are connected together byl a plug '45 of insulating material which stiifens and supports the same in the opening-40. The inner ends of the members 41 and 42 are reversely bent -and connected across these ends to complete the circuit is themember 46 carried on the lock bolt 29 means of the screw 47 This member 46a and also the members 41 and 42 are preferably of copper and the mem- 46 by the tubu@ piece 49. It will be readily observed that, when the switch parts 41, 42', and- 46 are in the position shown in Figs.

lll

ber 46 is covered by ,insulation 48 and the screw is also insulated from the ymember 2 or 3, the ignition circuit is closed through the switch but, on movement of the lock bolt downward a short. distance, the member 46 will move below and out of contact 5 with the inner ends of the members 41 and 42 breaking the circuit. Preferably (although not necessarily) the relationship of the lock bolt 29 and inner end ofthe member 22 is such that when the lock is in unlocked`position, as shown in`Fig. 2, Iwith the -clutch in engagement and the rod 22 in the position shown in Fig. 2, the lockbolt may be moved downward a suliicient clistance -to-break the circuit. The reason for preferring such arrangement is that there is preferably no ignition switch except the switch device as herein described. If au operator desired to stop the engine Jfor a. short period the lock bolt may be held downward by the foot of the operator breaking the circuit but this movement would not lock the clutch out at this period for the reason that the lock bolt will come into lcontact with the end of the member 22 and 25 thus only'the engine be stopped from running by breaking the ignition circuit. Upon release of the lock bolt to action by its spring and consequent establishment of the ignition circuit the engine is in condition to be started again by the usual starting mechanism.

By combining the switch for theignition circuit and lock for the 'operating mecha? nism of the automobile in a single structure,

3l the insurance hazard is very materially dccreased which tends to reduce the insurance cost. The purpose and functionbf my improved lock structure is to prevent forgetfulness on Vthe part of the operator to lock 40 the automobile. The usual operator does not forget tok turn the ignition switch to stop the engine before leaving the vehicley and with the arrangement herein described, itis only necessary for the opera'tor to step on or otherwise force the lock bplt downward and to do this requires disengagement'v of the clutch and withdrawal of the rod 22.

i Thus, by the simple and practically automatic act of shutting off the engine in this structure, the vehicle is locked as well as the ignition circuit broken and it is believed to be broadly new to combine these several functions o locking a control part of the vehicle`by a means simultaneously breaking 55. the ignition circuit. It is also to be understood that various lock devices may be utilized other thany such as is here preferably described but having the same general func- 'tionI to hold the lock in locked position and requiring a key to release the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- Y 1. A device for preventing unauthorized use of an automobile having an internal combustion engine, an ignition circuit, a clutch between the engine and driving wheels,` aspring tending to move the clutch to connect the engine and 'driving wheels. the combination therewith of a lock device including a case. a lock bolt slidable in the case, a' bar slidable in the case at substantiallyr a right angle tothe loci; bolt by movement of the clutch lever, the said bar on release of the Yclutch permitting the lock bolt to be moved to locked position, the bolt and barrooperating to hold theclutch released, and means for breaking the ignition circuitby movement of the lock bolt'to locked position.

2. A lock device for locking the clutch of an automobile in disengaged position comprising the combination with the clutch having a spring tending to engage the clutch and means operable at `will for disengaging the clutch, of a. bar movable upon actuation of the said operable means to disengage the clutch, a lock bolt movable to prevent return j movement of the bar subsequent to disengagement of the clutch, a key operated lock movable with the bolt, and avspring to withdraw the bolt from the locked position when the lock is unlocked.

3. A lock device for automobiles comprising the combination with a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the power apparatus and the driving wheels and means for operating the clutch, of 'a lock device comprising a lock and a lock bolt movable as a unit to locked position to engagementwith a part movable by dise agement of the clutch to hold the same dlsengaged, and a spring for returning the lockl Vand bolt to unlocked position.v

4. A lock device for the operating parts of 105 an automobile, comprising the combination with a clutch and operating means therefor, of a. lock case having an aperture therein. a bar riding in the aperture and movable by the clutch operating means, a lock bolt mov- 1l. able in an aperture extending across the bar aperture, the lock bolt being movable in front of the bar `when the clutch is disengalged thereby preventing movement of the clutch when released.'

5. A lock device for automobiles comprising the combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition circuit, a clutch for colmectingx and disconnecting the engine and propeller shaft of the automobile, 120 of a lock device including a bolt, a bar slid- Vable by the clutch, thebar preventing movement of the boltto locked position while the\ clutch is engaged and permitting movement of the bolt to locked position upon disengement of the clutch, the lock bolt and V bar cooperating to hold the clutch disengaged, a spring for automatically withdrawing the lock bolta'hen the lock is unlocked,

and a switch for the ignition circuit opened 13' 20 locked position.

by movement of the-bolt to locked position and closed by movement of the -bolt to unlocked position. ,f

6. A lock device for automobiles comprising the combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignitionA circuit, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the engine ad'propeller shafts and means for operating the clutch, of a lock case, a bolt manually slidable in the case to locked position, a spring for moving the bolt to unlockedposition, a key operated lock forreleasing the bolt, a bar movable upon movement of the clutch to disengaged position permitting the lock bolt to be moved to locked position holding the'bar from movement upon release of the clutch operating mechanism, and a switch in the ignition circuit opened by movement of.- the bolt to 7. A lock device for automobiles having an internal combustion engine7 an ignition circuit and a clutch for engaging or disen'-5 gaging the engine and the driving wheels, of

a lock'comprising a casing having an aper` 25 ture at the lower end, a rod slidable in the aperture and movable by the clutch operat.- Y

nition circuit having a partl carried bythe case and a part carried by thebolt whereby upon movement of the bolt to locked position the' circuit is openedand upon movement to un-' locked position'the circuit is closed.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specication.

WALTER M. REASON. 

